as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
resistance from native forces was greater than expected, and the invading army was forced to fall back
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fall back
Depending on where the front settles, afternoon highs could remain well above normal or fall back to more seasonal levels.
—
Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
The only exception to this rule in Arizona is the Navajo Nation, which does spring forward and fall back, putting this area of Arizona at a different time than the rest of the state for half of the year.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 25 Feb. 2026
On Thursday, New York didn’t have the short-handed excuse to fall back on.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Liu had left figure skating after the 2022 Beijing Games, only to return, on her own terms, and fall back in love with the sport.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
The only exception to this rule in Arizona is the Navajo Nation, which does spring forward and fall back, putting this area of Arizona at a different time than the rest of the state for half of the year.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 25 Feb. 2026
On Thursday, New York didn’t have the short-handed excuse to fall back on.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Liu had left figure skating after the 2022 Beijing Games, only to return, on her own terms, and fall back in love with the sport.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fall back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fall back
Verb
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Recipients aren't supposed to owe any taxes until the money is withdrawn, which can happen at any point after a child turns 18, in accordance with rules for traditional IRAs.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
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Several countries have begun withdrawing dependents of diplomatic personnel and non-essential staff from some locations in the Middle East, or advising citizens to avoid travel to Iran.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On her island home in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, the shoreline has visibly retreated within her short lifetime, with beaches eroded, coastal trees uprooted and some homes now barely 3 feet from the sea at high tide.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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The real horror in Frankenstein was a brilliant man who unleashed power and retreated from accountability.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Temperatures remain steady in the upper 30s and lower 40s through sunset, before dropping back into the upper 20s and lower 30s as the forecast dries out overnight.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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But nighttime temperatures will drop back below freezing, creating a gradual thawing that prevents the landscape from being inundated with meltwater.—
Eryn Dion,
The Providence Journal,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, Anderson recruited Burkle as the heavy hitting investor behind a counteroffer to keep the team in Sacramento that ultimately fell through after Burkle pulled out.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Last week, Ellison emerged victorious in a months-long battle for Warner Bros Discovery after Netflix pulled out of the bidding process.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Flores issued a one-out walk and another single in the sixth inning, but the second-year right-hander retired two straight HCU batters to get out of the jam.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
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Even as her hard-line tactics have shown some success, Sheinbaum has not renounced the precepts of López Obrador, who, while retired, remains a revered and influential figure.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fall back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fall%20back. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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